Folding postal sheet.



No. 638,56l. Patented Dec. 5, I899.- J. A. coax.

FOLDING POSTAL SHEET.

(Application filed Aug. 17, 1897.)

Attorney.

JOHN A. COOK, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FOLDING POSTAL SHEET.

S PECI FIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,561, dated December 5, 1899.

Application filed August 17,1897. Serial N0- 648,519. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. COOK, a citi- 'zen of the United States, residing at Bufialo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Postal Sheets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in folding postal sheets, its object being to provide a sheet for use as an invoice or letter which can be quickly folded, reliably sealed, and easily opened for an inspection of its contents; and it consists of certain details of construction, all of which will be fully hereinaf ter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an inside View of my improved postal sheet unfolded. Fig. 2 shows the lower ungurntned portion folded upon the central or address portion. Fig. 3 shows the upper gummed securing portion folded upon the central and lower portions and secured thereto ready for mailing, and Fig. 4 shows the inside of the postal sheet after being unsealed.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the central or address portion. 2 is the upper gummed folding and securing, portion, and 3 is the lower folding portion, all cut with a die from a single sheet either of card or paper and all preferably rectangular in shape. The upper securing portion 2 is slightly narrower than the central or address portion 1, which leaves the angular shoulders 4 4, and the lower folding portion 3 is slightly narrower than the upper securing portion 2, also leaving the shoulders 5 5. These shoulders 4 4 and 5 5 serve as guides in folding the portions 2 and 3 over upon the portion 1, and the lines of fold 6 6 can, if desired, be scored to further facilitate the folding.

The securing portion 2 is provided upon each side with the gummed sections 7 7.

8 8 are lines of perforations along the inner sides of the gummed sections 7 7.

Centrally arranged upon the upper securing portion 2 and near its upper edge is the circular gummed surface 9, surrounded by the line 10 of perforations.

My improved postal sheet constructed as described is used, sealed, and opened as follows: The inner face of the sheet, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, receives the written and printed matter, the address being placed upon the back of the central portion 1. (Not shown.) The lower portion 3 is then folded over the central portion 1, as shown in Fig. 2. Next the upper portion 2 is folded over upon the portion 3, the gumrned portions 7 7 and 9 (having been previously moistened) adhering to the central section 1. It will be noticed that the side edges of the central portion 1 extend beyond the gummed port-ions 7 7. In this manner any tampering with the postal sheet can be more readily detected than if the side edges of the portions 1 and 2 were even with each other, for the reason that any attempt to separate the edges of the sealed portions will show more plainly upon the central portion 1, extending beyond the gummed portions 7 7 than it would if the edges of the folded portions coincided. When the postal sheet is opened with the proper instrument, the gummed portions 7 7, separating along the lines of perforations 8 8, will adhere to the central portion 1, as shown in Fig. 4, and the gummed portion 9, separating along the line of perforations 10, will adhere to the lower folding portion 3 and leave a circular opening 11, (see Fig. 4,) by means of which the postal sheet can be engaged with and suspended from a filing-hook, if desired. More than one of these gum med surfaces 9 may be employed, if desired; but I preferably use one, as shown in connection with the side gummed surfaces 7 7.

I claim-- 1. A postal sheet having a central or address portion, an upper gummed folding and securing portion slightly narrower than the central or address port-ion and a lower ungumnled folding portion slightly narrower than the upper folding and securing portion whichis provided along its sides with gummed sect-ions adapted for union with the central or address portion the outer side edges of which extend beyond the gummed sections as and for the purpose stated.

10 dress portion, the outer edges of which extend beyond the gummed sections as and for the purpose stated.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN A. COOK;

Witnesses:

JOHN FERO, W. T. MILLER. 

